This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUTRpiQdrA
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQm9dadlDs
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaKIcWPqZe
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnIiAF8xYs
Nao: “What happens now?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigLTWeLWJB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiukYyUtkO
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL06HOphMDu
!406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhMTjPL8vG
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalXHmvrJzZ
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mDlkQoHHK
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT37OPbgX7
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX493Np9YoC
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrrWWiyGoW
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2uSFQu31F
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDSIOXzcQQ
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuzJLVv0GB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C3h0JSo8z
Alyson: “…”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJjnVVpSmd
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcn93ZjO3Q
Nao: “…”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjAM7p8EMR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5Yv2pvZbY
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrNrvERQHH
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNhmTzCas0
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe176hfY0HA
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVCXZI4DE1
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWDHaF3Zn3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfId9xxche
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJ6CTyF01d
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpJEYUkhg0
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuzPztj6lZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qrWwDfYqf
Nao: “…”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdrFaBkM7e
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzexhpeQDfM
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N1vqRldTu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjOwubtoVP
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR612DnUgJO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLRSJFpvIv
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwUX9UVir1
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx8Q68x9ZA
Nao: “What’s with you?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbleTl9fUHB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7vDHgFgqf
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam1HQrJkAW
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lkRI6wUUW
Nao: “!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqPJ1cbFl8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeGkwaseTR
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncoVAVH6l5
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHw8W3P0cI
Nao: “…”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3oaIXAKqO
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jRXSshsnm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFWZeCTTW1
Tch.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZIK1qWqR9
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6TrdIXEk3
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8RCldCtf6
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpObHnwPliU
Alyson: “!!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUpJEsmwBw
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FuYfdLzWL
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam988ZmBux
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO2Tdgpaik
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXT7q1mQQl
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
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406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbRvXIN6i1
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qhUHLbkhJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHXu3hLoSo
*Sigh*
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0zfy4PEEb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vJAHA4q7t
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRYoKqrEvP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdio7heXwmT
Arc?406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qx3SO6cBD
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwSUeCEi2O
Arc: “Yes?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2IJNpMKI5
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2um3JbXVDO
How’s my body?
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhkNON1f9b
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcZbmbzDQq
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZPiKy7D4y
*Ding*406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylojQdvEo0
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKMivs8QmF
Points: 6406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXYWXswlbK
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbo2Srmxtp
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzowTQbjmix
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJHFs3wthd
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz33qJ86e5
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qlaiA5SMw
*Door open*
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKg23vD1iO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjoRFb6Pz4
I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1wttQoi4X
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxZ4p0BD4A
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrO215yuDa
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdIIifLl11
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUXJDvyMa7
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTsn8feHem
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir8q7V2GbJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FDJMUSrtX
Nell: “You promised…”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ku7Wz2Cdj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ih9YwGSYV
Nao: “Mom I-”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi1E3FX9nW
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpk2WHkgNm
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLAcy70OSU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9qHzPDtzq
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLqQAxJSfp
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypWcf1rPzr
Nao: “But-”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE8A51aedm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq70sHgQuo
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1JrMuWZT3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7duO7F7bZ7
Nao: “!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjfzLKntsv
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaG5bdGDzU
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffvzOFrMgD
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wE562VFHd
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOKNy9Ce6b
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E1MlI3V0o
Nao: “!!”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oAdwrgB1C
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8UoeWCr4A
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6H8lKob52
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz7DgOf4vh
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfYHIoiN1K
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsqDdRSYsY
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxl2TGgBjx
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVEuXXj8PA
What am I becoming?
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAphZGddMx
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsr266SvkG
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0cTZZqYzo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRbZ8iWxEX
W-What?
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4p4yHk05q
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1Y2uWw2fF
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjvXqLSoKX
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuD3Renm0D
Nao: “R-Really?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFFH2v72Ki
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvPg4BblV6
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLWYpclM6l
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XSmX6uPXp
Nao: “What do you mean?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HPATJ6XZo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PhNGnZj6b
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUYuHDrf5w
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCkpRFJPxq
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77sZUpAunf
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2pyiUKFf4
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMTRdqUaPD
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmAK3OHR8C
Nao: “*Nod*”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUNg9pFcz4
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH9By1Q1MT
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvullsXv2cl
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQGkPOVjB3
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGMZRFLn6G
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYils2kDmGI
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8Pu7dXl4F
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzwF0XIC9T
Nao: “Mom I…”
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406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR3LvQWUca
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXEM4TwNHQ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D0RYmOxnQ
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PSX1Y4Yjb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g4pEFGSH0
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7VNGH8ZDQ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomCPIeiB86
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumxjL9KjKY
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVfkcBxdEh
Nao: “I-”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqScKrjJNU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZF4xcmQDr
Nell: “Promise me.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA1S0Xy24N
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m4ifGpVGF
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqMq54TrjT
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtAFHX5xOd
Arc: “What are you doing?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQAS9hvh43
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTwqWMwbJb
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROPYOIr4x2
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RatUwOOaA
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzUhxEAYtU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEjWYopk3t
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyfCGFswff
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6i8IhTGKG
Nell: “O-Okay.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMJOorTFcu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7HxgfSBsW
*Curtains close*
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2QIeMKt5y
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj41r9akBK
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zRPZET5mx
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa0I5dLAzl
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gybzZuqO2
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhCixVspv0
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGpHuHdPMR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvEq4P1ab7
Nell: “I…need some time.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq2TmGCYgJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEaYyxJNed
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlwSEVB83l
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwq9dnf9DX
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDW6V740bo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9p3BIbEqj
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaVjjkDocP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WTZdRD6JL
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW8wmZZ2ZJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQuKj1KwHf
In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIoLi6W94U
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhQfkebQEX
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnYd4OIkjS
*Ring*406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EqoYdLv9Y
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz2EzsuI1C
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ4FAx73g8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuWpZYmY4e
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwSRhkMVbR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Py2aQ7ZKo
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnomvVthKm3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkJg5w4KWc
…Are you serious?
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERCW8SQ4sy
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsL7ESx60e
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m0aEVfD7g
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuERuot6Qlb
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5DVqkpA4Z
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWjZ8PBAwB
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb24vjchKLl
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JjmIqF47K
Nao: “Happy to help
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtoZl3Nzw7
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrjXiu6Iwv
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ay4YuViGx
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EiykGQytU
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkztkYnteM
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx5uXGxMUn
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEivvFJ79q
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9bbeft47D
Nao: “…Same.”
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2CyOOPPus
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOlFbGp9aW
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eQKDFhXUZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxSH34m25R
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn9bktMKuF
